Electroosmotic and Electrochemical Methods in Stabilizing Kaolinite Soil in Ground and Slope Conditions

Electrokinetic method of stabilization offers an innovative alternative to the improvement
of soft soil and problematic ground condition. This research investigates the effects of
electroosmotic and electrochemical on local kaolinite soil in both flat ground and slope
conditions. This paper also concentrates on finding out the best possible combinations of
controllable variables which provide optimum modification and stabilization effects
using both the methods.
The first stage involved the usage of direct electrical current and electrodes in
electroosmotic application associated with soil consolidation and stabilization. A small
scale electroosmotic tests on kaolinite soil were conducted using specially designed and
fabricated electroosmotic cells and boxes. The effects of variation in surcharges, voltages,
electrodes, different sizes of particles and others on the characteristics of soil such as
settlement, shear strength, moisture content were then compared. In the second stage
experiment, several tests were conducted in electrochemical cells and boxes using
different voltages, chemicals, molarities, spacings of electrodes, and other variables
introduced in the soil sample. The outcomes of all these varying variables on the treated
soil samples were then monitored and recorded.
Results from both the electroosmotic and electrochemical treatments demonstrate
positive effects on the treated kaolinite soil samples. The electroosmotic treatment using
100 volts produced an increase in shear strength of approximately 450 percent after 7
days of treatment mainly due to dewatering and flocculation processes. The
electrochemical method using 100 volts on the other hand resulted in a stunningly 2200
percent increase in shear strength using calcium chloride (CaCh) solution with the same
7 day period of treatment possibly as a result of the formation of cementitious material.
Likewise, other soil characteristics also show significant improvements after treatment.